Wrapping-machine.



H. Y ..ARMSTRONG. WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man APR. 16. 1915.

Patented Oct. 1, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET- 1.

Mi /2655 a I Inucnivr- \A. QMMA Eta-W H. Y. ARMSTRONG.

WRAPPING MACHINE- APPLICATION FILED APR. 16. 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented 0cm 1, 191,8.

HARRY Y. ARMSTRONG, 0F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO PACKAGE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

WRAPPING-MACHINE.

Patented Oct. ll, i919.

Application filed April 16, 1915. Serial No. 21,739.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY Y. ARMSTRONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Wrapping-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

A very common method of wrapping articles consists in folding a wrapper. about an article toform a tube with its longest dimensions extending in the direction of the length of the article, and then making tucks in the wrapper at the opposite ends of the article to complete the 'wrapping operation. Machines of the rotary type are much used in wrapping packages in this manner. be-. cause of their simplicity and high speed. While these machines operate very satisfactorily on small packages or packages in which the longitudinal edge flaps 0f the wrapper are folded against one side of the package, as distinguished from its edge, difficulties are experienced in attempting to wrap large packages when it is desired to have the longitudinal flaps folded on one edge of the package, or wherever it is desired to have these flaps folded against a wide surface of a package while it is in the tumble box or wheel of the machine.

The present invention provides a machine in which this difficulty is overcome and in which the overlapping flaps, in addition to being folded pro erly, may also be heat sealed while in t e tumble box. The invention also provides novel folding devices which are applicable to other types of wrapping machines than'that specifically mentioned above. These and other novel features of the invention will be readily understood from the following description of one embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional view through a wrapping machine showing in elevation mechanism embodying the present invention; I l I Fig. 2 isa perspective view of the wrapper engaging face of one of the folders;

it in the form indicated in Fig. 6.

Figs. 3 and 4: are fragmentary views showmg different positions of the folders that make the longitudinal edge fold on a pack- Fig; 5 is a side elevationshowing a detail of construction; and

stance the tumble box, which is indicated at 2, is provided with four pockets. This machine, as is well understood by those skilled in this art, is so arranged that the packages are introduced into the tumble box one at a time, each package picking up a wrapper while it is being carried into the tumble box. In the arrangement shown the paper feeding mechanism is designed to feed the wrappers one at a time in front of the tumble box 2,, and a plunger-3 then forces a package into engagement with the wrapper and into the pocket positioned at a, Fig. 1, the construction of the pocket being such tl1at.when the package is finally deposited in the pocket,the wrapper will be folded about three sides 1of T 1e paper feeding mechanism will, of course, be designed to feed the kind of wrapping ma terial required for the particular package to be wrapped. It is contemplated in the present machine that a wrapper impregnated with paraflin or other waxy material may be used so that it can be heat sealed on the package. A. package having been introduced into a pocket of the tumble box at a,

. Fig. 1, the tumble box is next moved ninety by the tumble box, pushes the package into" a folding chute 4 that makes the remaining end folds on the package and leaves it'in the form shown in Fig. 9.

This invention is particularly concerned with the mechanism that folds two longitudinal edge flaps d and 0 against one face of the package as they are shown in Fig. 8.

Assuming 'the package to have just been moved into the position b, Fig. 1, these two which is driven from the main'shaft of the machine. The folder 5 is pivoted on the arms 6 so that it can have a rocking move-' ment, this mo ement being limited, however by a pair of set screws 9 which are threade through lugs rigid with thefolder and bear against the respective arms-6. As shown in the drawings, the folder extends for a con-: siderable distance at the side of its pivot to- Wardthe tumble box; and two coiled springs 10, interposed between the. 'armso and lugs rigid with the folder 5, tend to tip this extended side of the folder toward the tumble box.

The other flap e of the wrapper isfolded down on the flap d by means of a heated folder or hotbox 11 pivotally mounted between two arms 12 which depend from but are fast to-a rock shaft 7 supported in the machine frame directly above: the tumble box. Another pair of arms 13, extending I at the opposite sides of the tumble box are connected by twohorizontal links 15, each pivoted to the lowerends of the respective arms. One of the arms 13 is extended beyond'the rock shaft 14 and is connected by a rod 16 to a cam follower operated by a cam 17 that rotates with the cam 8. This mechanism swings the folder or hot box 11 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown-in Figs. 3 and 4 and back again. A

In order to allow the folder. 11 to adjust itself to the face of the package on which it makes a fold, a lost motion connection is provided between it and the arms 12 that is, the pivots which project from the opposite ends of the folder extend through elongated holes 18 (see Fig. 5) in the arms 12 and then enter closely fitting holes in'the ends of the. links 15. This arrangement allows the package to raise the folder with refer- 'en-ee to the arms 12 and also enables the folder to rock freely to adjust itself to the fa'ceof the package on which. it rests. A

weight 20, adjustable in the ends of the links opposite the ends attached to the arms 12, counterbalancesthe weight of the folder 11 and thus enables the package to move it easil while it is in contact therewith.

Heat may be supplied to the folderll in any convenient manner but in the arrange-' ment shown a flexible pipe 21 is provided to deliver steam to the chamber in the folder, a similar pipe cart-yin the steam away from the other end of the' older. The folder or hot box 11 thus is continuously heated in all positions and is maintained at substantially a uniform temperature.

As soon asthe tumble box moves into the position b, Fig. 1, the folder 5 is swung into the position in which it is shown in Fig. .4,

thus laying down the flap d on the edge face of the package. The springs 10 tip this folder in such -.a direction that its forward edge first strikes the edge face of the package and as the folder wipes inwardl over this face, the springsyield to permlt the folder to rock toward a position parallel with said face. This folder pauses while the folder 11 is swung toward the position in which jiti's shown in Fig. 1, the folder 5 I retirin just. fast enough'to keep out of contact wlth the folder 11 so as to hold the flap d in place while the flap e is being folded down on it by the member 11.- In order to v a i 1 reduce the friction between the face. of the folder 5 and wrapper and thus prevent the folder from-wrinkling up the wrapper as it retires, the face of the folder is rovided with several ridges 5, Fig. 2. Y is construction reduces very greatly the drag of the folder on the wrapper flap and prevents the action'just referred to. a parallel to the arms 12, are fastened to a rock shaft parallel to the shaf /"7; and the individuals of each pair of-arms 12-and- 13 The folder 11, as it rests on the edge face of the package, melts the wax in the overion lapping flaps e and cl. The tumbler box is now advanced from the position b to the position 0, Fig. 1, thus carrying the edgaof the package under a curved brush 23 which yieldingly holds the flaps d and in contact with each other and at the same time exerts a cooling action on-the wax, thus causing the two flaps to adhere to each other.

In order to move the brush out of the.

path of the folder 11, the lower end of this brush is pivoted to the machine frame at 24 andits upper end is connected by two links 25, one on each side, to the respective pivots that join the arms -13--to the links 15. This mechanism compels the upper end of the brush to swing with-the folder 11. The

folder 11 .remai ns stationary after being.

swung into the position in which it appears in- Flg. 1 until the tumble box has carried the ackage about one-half the length of the rush 23,-at which time tl e'. folder beguns, to retire to the position inwhich it is shown in Fig. so as not to interfere with the PIOP Q I'PQSlUODlHg of the next package for the operation of the folders 5 and 11. This retiring movement is short, as will be evident froman inspection of Fig. 3, and does not carry the brush 23 far enough to interfere in any way with its action on the flaps d and 6. By the time the package has reached the posi'tion c in readiness to be pushed into the folding chute 4:, the flaps will have cooled sufliciently to cause the wax which they carry to seal them securely together. The end folds are made in the wrapper by the folders of the chute 4 and the packages are then carried away from the tail of the machine through end sealing mechanism which heat seals the end folds in the same way that the longitudinal folds have been sealed.

The machine shown in the drawings is designed to wrap a very large package and to make the overlapping longitudinal fold onthe edge of the package as distinguished from itsside. The folding mechanism providedby this invention folds the wrapper tightly about the package and seals it in this condition. The construction of the folders by which they are enabled to adjust themselves to the face of the package materially contributes to this end, since it enables them to hold the wrapper flaps firmly against the face of the package, which otherwise could not be done because of the width of the face of the package on which these flaps are folded. It is obvious that the same mechanism could be used successfully on packages in which it was desirable to make the fold on a wide face of the package, whether this happened to be the edge or side face.

Having thus described my'invention, what I claim as new and desire to'secure'by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a tumble box and mechanism for,

introducin ackages one at a time into the pockets 0 t e tumble box with a waxed wrapper folded about three sides of each package, of means operative to fold and seal together the longitudinal edge flaps of the wrapper while the package is in the tumble box, said means including a heated device operative to melt the wax on the overlapping portions of said wrapper flaps, and a movable support for said heated device on which the device is pivotally mounted.

2. In a wrapping machine, the conibination with a tumble box and mechanism for introducing packages one at a time into the tumble box with a wrapper folded about three sides of each package, of folders arranged to be moved alternately over the remaining face of the package to fold the longitudinal edge flaps of the wrapper against said face while the package is in the tumble box, means for operating said folders, and a curved brush arranged to hold said flaps of the wrapper in their folded position while the tumble box carries the package away from the folders, the end of said brush adjacent to the folders being connected to the folder that makes the final fold in the wrapper so that it will be moved by the movement of the folder.

3. In a wrapping-machine, the combination with a tumble box, means for rotating it and mechanism for introducing packages one at a time into the pockets of the tumble box with a wrapper folded about three sides of each package, of means operative to fold .and seal together the longitudinal edge flaps of the wrapper while the package is in the tumble box, said means including a heat device mounted for movement toward and from the face of the package on which said flaps are folded, and a movably mounted curved brush operative to press the overlapping flaps together while the tumble box rotates.

4. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a tumble box and mechanism for introducing packages one at a time into the pockets of said tumble box with a waxed wrapper folded about three sides of each package, of movable folders operative to fold the longitudinal edge fla s of the introducing packages one at a time into the pockets of said tumble box with a wrapper folded about three sides of each package, of folders for folding the longitudinal edge flaps of the wrapper against the remaining side of said package while it is in said tumble box, and means for moving said folders alternately over said remaining side, said folders being mounted for movement while in engagement with the package to adjust themselves to the face of thepackage with which they are in contact.

6. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a tumble box and mechanism for introducing packages one at a time into the tumble box with a wrapper folded about three sides of each package, of folders arranged to be moved alternately over the re- 7. In a wrappin machine, the combina tion with means r partially folding -a wrapper about a package, of a folder operative to make an additionalfold in said wrapper, said folder havingridges extending parallel to the direction of relative moirement of the folder and package and serving to reduce the friction between the folder and the wrapper. v In testimony whereof'I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of 15 two subscribing witnesses. i

- RRY'Y. ARMSTRONG.

Witnesses.

J WINIFRED NELEN,

MARY E. HEALEY. 

